Habitat - Indoor :: old 10 gallon tank?

[emma]

I have 4 hatchlings in a 20 gallon tank and i have a spare 10 gallon. Do you think that it would be OK to put the 2 turtles that always get picked on in the 10 gallon tank together? I have a filter in both tanks right now, basking area, fake plants, rocks, and a light. UVB and heat. So should i put them in there? would they be happier? or should i just leave them all in the 20 gallon?? tell me what you think.

[SpotsMama]

It would be better to put the two turtles that are being picked on in a 10 gallon tank rather than leave them in a 20 gallon tank where they are being harrassed.

If you've got four turtles, have you done the math on their eventual habitat needs? The rule of thumb is 10 gallons of tank per inch of turtle. Even if your guys are tiny hatchlings, they're already too big for the tanks you've got. The things that happen when the tanks are too small are (1) if there's more than one turtle in the tank they start fighting (2) it becomes next to impossible to keep the water clean because there's not enough water to dilute the waste - even the best filter in the world won't be able to keep up (3) the turtle will be unhappy because he'll feel cramped - they are very active creatures and need their space.

Sorry if this sounds negative - I don't mean to, but I know you care a lot about your turtles and want what's best for them, so you need to start thinking about how to provide a good home for them.

[emma]

thanks, i am trying!:) IF my mom would just let me get the 50 gallon rubbermaid.

[marisa]

Just keep an eye on the two in the 20 gallon for any signs of bullying. If one bullied the two that you separate, s/he may decide to start pushing the tankmate around. I'd also keep an eye on the bullied ones as well.

[megcornell]

To be honest even 50 gallons isn't large enough. I think you should really think about the points spotsmama made. Sometimes being a good owner means realizing you can't give all your animals proper living space so you have to do the right thing and rehome them.

[untsmurf]

You seriously need to give up your turtles since your mom will not let you care for them properly, especially now that they are showing aggression. It's bordering on neglect to leave them the way the are.

Sorry that I'm being harsh but I just don't want to hear that one or more of your turtles died because of aggression. You need to do right by them.

[emma]

The turtles only fight now when i put a pellet in and 2 of them want it. So I started feeding them in the extra 10 gallon tank seperatly and now they are doing perfectly fine! They are all the best of friends now and they are always basking together, sleeping together, and swimming, and begging together. It is so cute!

[Opus]

Dude that means you need 5x 40+gallon rubbermaids
And if your mom won't let you get them,well that means you have too give aleast 2 of them away.

[powerofvoodoo]

emmanelson, I was just wondering how old you were and whether or not you plan on going away for college (if you aren't there already).
I don't want to put in my 2 cents until I know this information.

[emma]

No i am not going away to college for another 5 or 6 years. I am only 13.

[Opus]

^Oh,so that's why your mother says no to the rubbermaids.Is she still your "Boss"?

[emma]

Yeah. Which sucks.

[Opus]

My house is way worse..........my 6'1 205lb dad is the boss.....he is very scary and if I forget my chorus he says he will litreally says that he will throw opus in the river or flush my newts into the toilet or even chuck them away but my mother saves me though lol!she just loves my little opus too!

[ZombieTurtle]

i think your going to need to seriously consider moving 2 turtles (possibly 3) out of your home. they will require a lot of space that it seems like you cant provide for them (not because you dont want to but because you cant).

[emma]

when i get to be older and my brothers get older they will take their turtles and get tanks and everything they need for them. Then i will only have 2 turtles. Which would be my turts.